CBs Ronald Darby (left) and P.J. Williams (right) are set to have a breakout season. / FSView file photo

Written by

Nikhail Gogia

Staff Writer @NikhailGogia311

P.J. Williams won the defensive MVP honors in last season’s national championship game, and the junior cornerback is poised to make an even larger impact in 2014. He leads one of the nation’s top projective secondary’s to what he and the Florida State defense hope to be another dominant season.

The junior cornerback is one of three returning starters from a season ago, along with fellow junior Ronald Darby and standout sophomore Jalen Ramsey. Together, the trio hopes to recreate the success the FSU secondary saw a season ago, where they led the nation in pass defense (156.6 ypg) as well as in interceptions (26).

Despite the key losses of premier defensive backs Lamarcus Joyner and Terrence Brooks to the NFL, Williams believes the Seminoles have enough hard work ethic and young talent in the defensive backfield to remain amongst the top units in the country.

P.J. Williams quietly emerged as a standout player in the national championship team from a year ago, where he started 11 of the 13 games he played. In 2013, Williams led Florida State in pass breakups (7) as well as total passes defended (10), while finishing tenth on the team in tackles (35). He also snagged three interceptions over the season, including a pick six against Boston College and another that came early in the fourth quarter of the national championship that eventually changed the momentum of the game and led to an FSU touchdown.

Williams certified his presence on the field both against the run as well as the pass, and played a pivotal role in in the 2013 championship campaign on the nation’s third overall total defense (281.4). However, he had to work hard to earn his spot as a starting corner in a secondary that’s housed some notable names over the past few seasons.

P.J. Williams joined the ‘Noles in the stellar 2012 signing class as a four star recruit, but was also largely overshadowed by players like Jameis Winston, Mario Edwards Jr. and even junior CB Ronald Darby. In 2012, Williams appeared in 14 games, mainly on special teams and as a reserve corner, recording 14 tackles. The main adjustment he had to make though was in his technical game, as the DB who had played safety in high school now was transferring to the corner position.

At the ACC kickoff, Williams talked to the media about his transition.“It was frustrating because corner was way different,” he told reporters Sunday.

“Going from safety in high school to corner is college is way different because you’ve got to learn a whole lot of different techniques. Just being confident, you have to have a whole different level of confidence.”

Even QB Jameis Winston was vocal about the growth of the young DB over the weekend, saying that just throwing against him in practice on a regular basis has allowed both players to get better during the offseason.

And just as when he was a freshman, the talent at Florida State’s wide receiver position has challenged Williams in both his skill and technique. When CB Xavier Rhodes was drafted after the 2012 season, Williams used the opportunity to arise as one of the key players in the FSU secondary two years ago.

In 2014, Williams will now become a face for the secondary, already acknowledged as one of the nation’s top defensive players, being named to the Chuck Bednarik Award Watch List, which is given to the country’s top defensive player (FSU’s Mario Edwards Jr. is also on the list).

He’s also on the Jim Thorpe Award watch, which is given to the nation’s top DB. Both and fellow corner Ronald Darby’s stocks are high, as the two have both been regarded as potential first round picks in 2015. P.J. isn’t shy about his confidence in the secondary either. At the ACC Kickoff, he stated he believed that he and his teammates have the ability to be the best in the nation.

“We pride ourselves on being the best defensive backfield in the country,” Williams said. “We work hard every day to get better. We all go hard. We have some great young players, great starters, everybody can play. Everybody has experience pretty much and we pride ourselves on being the best defensive backs in the country.”

Watch for CB P.J. Williams to make an even bigger splash in 2014, as he forces a challenge for QB’s of all types, in and outside of the ACC. It would be no surprise to see the young defensive back make a name for himself and draw professional attention, all while trying to repeat as a defensive force on the way to a second consecutive national championship. Williams is undoubtedly one of Florida State’s highlight players to watch for as the 2014 season approaches.